Who Are We

"...devoted to good works and acts of charity."
Acts 9:36

Disciples Care Network is a national organization of human service agencies in covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Governed by a Board of Directors representing eleven member organizations, DCN promotes the work of all church-related care agencies with more than 200 ministry sites providing care for more than 43,000 persons annually.

Abandoned babies; pre-school children; abused, neglected and at risk children; youth and young adults in turmoil; persons with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries; those in need of language and literacy, family life and job training; older adults seeking retirement living, assisted living, nursing care or community-based programs; hospice assistance and many other needs are cared for every day by DCN ministries.

Purposes

The purposes of Disciples Care Network are to:

  • Increase awareness and encourage celebration among Disciples of the significant compassionate care provided on their behalf.
  • Help shape the future direction and organization of social and health care structure and service delivery among Disciples.
  • Call ourselves, as leaders and organizations, to lives of responsibility and accountability.
  • Encourage members of the Christian Church to act as catalysts in forming new ministries of care to meet needs.
  • Provide collegial consultation to congregations, regions, DCN agencies and groups of churches considering programs to address unmet needs.
  • Offer training to aid DCN agencies, congregational, regional and other Church leadership to remain current in the changing service delivery environment.
  • Provide opportunities to Disciples throughout the US and Canada to support Disciples Care Network and its ministries.

DCN Board of Directors

At the DCN Annual Meeting in San Antonio, January 25-26, 2009 the following persons were elected to the Board of Directors. The number in parenthesis indicates the year the board member's term will end.

  • Ralph Allen, Vice President Mission Advancement, Christian Care Communities, Louisville, KY (’13)
  • Ken Burger, Executive Director, The Summit, Lynchburg, VA ('13)
  • Sue Cherney, Executive Director, Southern Christian Services for Children & Youth, Jackson, MS (’12)
  • Bob Cooper, President, Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian Home, Denver, CO (’13)
  • Kay Ellis, President, Juliette Fowler Homes, Dallas, TX (’13)
  • Wanda Gottschalk, Chief Development Officer, Child Saving Institute, Omaha, NE (’11)
  • David Lundeen, CEO, Cleveland Christian Home, Cleveland, OH (’12)
  • C. Mark Palmer, CEO, Woodhaven, Columbia, MO (‘11)
  • Don Stump, President, Christian Church Homes of Northern California, Oakland, CA (’12)
  • Karen Wardlaw, Administrator, Disciple Homes Gladewater, TX (’11)

DCN Corporate Officers

  • Bob Cooper, President
  • Sue Cherney, Vice President
  • Don Stump, Secretary/Treasurer

DCN Staff

  • Don Brewer, Director, Arvada, Colorado